Adapter unit, septum inlet devices and valves

ABSTRACT

An adapter unit suitable for fitting upon the wall which forms the top portion of the neck of a container or bottle, and the combination of such unit with a septum inlet device or valve. The adapter unit comprises an internally threaded tubular member, with a flanged end containing a peripherally located O-ring, which flanged end of the said tubular member rests atop the neck of a bottle and can be retained in such position by use of a metal sealing ring. In one embodiment, a septum inlet device is provided by location of a septum within the said tubular member, and it can be retained therein by a second tubular member, externally threaded for engagement with the said adapter tubular member. In another embodiment, a valve assembly is located within the adapter unit.

United States Patent Harris, Sr. et al.

[54] ADAPTER UNIT, SEPTUM INLET DEVICES AND VALVES [72] Inventors: RanoJ. Harris, Sr.; Rano J. Harris,

Jr., both of Baton Rouge, La.

[73] Assignee: Precision Sampling Corporation [22] Filed: July 2,1971

[21] Appl. N0.: 159,170

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.90,603, Nov. 18,

1970, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 879,232, Nov. 24, 1969,Pat. No. 3,603,471, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 115,496, Feb.16', 1971.

52 U.S.Cl ..2 1s/3sR,215 /40,215/7 4 51 Int.Cl. ..B64d4l/02 [58] FieldofSearch 215/3312, 40, 74, 47, 39.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,343,699 9/1967 Nicko..215/38 R 51 Dec.26,1972

3,653,528 4/1972 Wimmer ..2l5/38 R Primary Examiner-George T. HallAttorney-Llewellyn A. Proctor [5 7 ABSTRACT An adapter unit suitable forfitting upon the wall which forms the top portion of the neck of acontainer or bottle, and the combination of such unit with a septuminlet device or valve. The adapter unit comprises an internally threadedtubular member, with a flanged end containing a peripherally locatedO-ring, which flanged end of the said tubular member rests atop the neckof a bottle and can be retained in such position by use of a metalsealing ring. In one embodiment, a septum inlet device is provided bylocation of a septum within the said tubular member, and it can beretained therein by a second tubular member, externally threaded forengagement with the said adapter tubular member. in another embodiment,a valve assembly is located within the adapter unit.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHEBZB 1 2 3,707,239

INVENTORS RANO J. HARRIS, SR RANO J. HARRIS, JR. inwm a. 6mm.

ATTORNEY ADAPTER UNIT, SEPTUM INLET DEVICES AND VALVES This is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 90,603 filed Nov. 18, 1970,application Ser. No. 879,232 filed Nov-. 24, 1969 now US. Pat. No.3,603,471, and application Ser. No. 1 15,496 filed Feb. 16, 1971,covering various types of septum valves, all the disclosures of whichare herein and hereby referred to and fully incorporated by way ofreference.

This invention relates to improvements in septum inlet devices andvalves, principally, but not exclusively, for use in combination withcontainers, or apparatus for containing fluids, i.e.', liquids or gases,or both, within an enclosed space or volume. The septum inlet devices orvalves, in preferred combinations, are used in connection with varioustypes of containers, especially bottles, and fluids are generallyremoved therefrom by the use of needle syringes. In the severalcombinations, in accordance with the present invention, the septuminlets or valves are comprised of two principal portions, each beingoperatively engagable one to the other (or detachable one from theother), preferably by threadable connections. One portion of theassembly, a septum or valve adapter unit, isnormally provided with aplug portion or projection for fitting within the neck of a container,and it is held in place by a metal sealing ring or cap which can bepositioned over the circumferential or peripheral edges of the wall, orflange, forming the neck of the container. The other portion of theassembly contains a septum, or a valve stem and septum in series. Ineither case, the septum is self resealable after puncture and withdrawalof a cannula or needle. Fluids can thus be conveniently confined withina container, provided with such septum inlet or valve, until such timeas it is desired to inject or withdraw fluid, as when a contained fluidis withdrawn for injection into the inlet system of a modern analyticalinstrument, e.g., a gas chromatograph or mass spectrometer.

Among the objects of this invention are:

To provide valves of such character which make it feasible to confineeven highly volatile fluid compositions, and mixtures, without adverseeffect or change caused by external environment.

To provide valves of such character which can be used repeatedly despiteadverse external environmental conditions, or changes in suchconditions, for injection or withdrawal of fluids, and fluid compositionwill remain virtually unchanged.

To provide valves of such character which contain septums of resealablecharacter, or character wherein a puncture made by the needle of asyringe will close upon the needle and prevent loss of fluid contents,as the needle enters or is withdrawn from the septum,

To provide septum inlet devices which contain septums of resealablecharacter, as above described.

To provide septum inlet devices and valves of simple structure which canbe made by ordinary shop methods, with precision and accuracy, toprovide useful articles of commerce.

To provide septum inlet devices, valves, and valve combinations, of thecharacter described which can be tightly affixed and sealed uponcontainers for direct various usages, and modifications.

These and other objects are achievedin accordance with the presentinvention which, in all embodiments,

includes an adapter unit and also an adapter unit in combination with aseptum inlet device or valve. The adapter unit comprises a tubularmember adapted for sealable engagement with the neck of a container, and

a metal sealing ring is used to secure the said tubular member upon theneck of a container, or bottle.

Preferably, at least the upper portion of the internal wall of the saidtubular member is threaded and the axial opening through the tubularmember is constituted of adjoining contiguous axial openings ofdifferent diameters, a large diameter opening being located above asmaller diameter opening, such that an annular surface is provided atthe bottom of the tubular member. A disc-shaped septum located thereoncan be held in place by a second tubular member, threadably engagedtothe adapter unit via threadable engagement with the wall of therelatively largediameter opening to provide a septum inlet of uniquecharacter.

In another preferred combination a valve is fitted into the adapterunit, preferably by threadable engagement therewith. The valve isstructured such that it includes a tubular body, or tubular member,which contains a septum and stem integrally mounted in series. The stem,provided with a lateral opening therethrough, is slidably or rotatablymounted within the wall of the tubular member to provide a means forexposure of the septum to permit passage of a cannula or needle portionof a syringe for injection or withdrawal of fluid from the bottle. Thevalve, but for the presence of the septum, is opened and closed byalignment and misalignment of the lateral opening of the stem with theaxial opening through the tubular member to expose the septum topenetration. 1n the case of the septum inlet device or valve, the septumis self-resealable after puncture and withdrawal of a cannula or needle.

This invention, and its principle of operation, will be more fullyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description ofspecific and preferred embodiments, and to the attached drawings towhich reference is made in the description. In the description, where asubscript is used with a number, the latter is to be taken in genericsense, the subscripts being used to indicate that the unit referred tois constituted of more than one component.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, depicted in exploded fashion, of a mostpreferred type of septum valve embodying the present invention, as itwould be associated in relation with a typical container, viz., abottle.

FIG. 2 depicts in partial crosssection the valve of the precedingfigure,'in assembled form and in combination with the said container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, depicted in exploded fashion, of apreferred form of septum inlet device, as it would be associated inrelation with atypical container, shown in part. I

FIG. 4 depicts the septum inlet device of FIG. 3 in assembledrelationship with the container, and in cross; section.

FIG. 5 depicts another preferred form of septum inlet device which isquite useful in medical applications.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown generally a valve 10,constituted of an upper tubular portion 10 and a lower tubular portionThe upper tubular portion 10, of the valve 10 is provided with a centralor axial opening 11, and a lateral opening 12 which intersectstherewith. A Cylindrical shaped septum 13 can be contained within theopening 12, this member lying .across and sealing the passageway formedby axial opening 11. A second lateral opening 14 provides a passagewaywithin which a reciprocable stem 15, provided with knobs 16,17, can befitted. In the position of the stern, best shown by reference to FIG. 2,the valve is closed; but by shifting the stem 15 to the right, or in thedirection shown by reference to the arrow, the lateral stern opening 18can be aligned with the axial opening 1 1 so that the valve is opened.In such position the cannula of a needle syringe (not shown) can bepassed downwardly through the entry portion of the vertically alignedaxial opening 11, through the septum 13, through lateral stem opening18, again through the lower portion of axial opening 1 l and then intothe bottle 9 so that fluid contents thereof canbe withdrawn into thesyringe. Upon withdrawal of the cannula the puncture made thereby closesback up, or is selfresealed. This assures minimum exposure of the bottlecontents to the ambient atmosphere. The valve 10 can then be closed bysliding thestem 15' in the opposite direction. It will be noted that thevertical orientation of the stem opening 18 can be assured by use of apin 19. The pin 19 is permanently mounted on knob 16 and is permanentlyextended into and reciprocable within a third lateral opening (notnumbered) within the tubular body 10 so that any rotation of the stem isprevented. It is, of course, apparent that a rotatable stem such asdescribed in application Ser. No. 879,232, supra, is the equivalent ofthe push-pull type stem described herein, such structure beingincorporated herein by way of reference.

The lower portion 10 of the valve 10, as described in FIGS. 1 and 2, incombination with the metal sealing cap or ring 26 comprises an adapterunit for fitting a valve portion, such as described above, upon theopening of a container. The portion 10 of the valve 10 is thusconstituted of a tubular member 21, through the center of which isprovided openings 22,23 of two different diameters. Threads are cut intothe internal wall which forms the larger diameter upper opening 22,these threads being of size and pitch for threadable engagement with thethreaded'projected portion 8 of the upper portion 10 of the valve 10.The smaller diameter opening 23 is sized for receipt of the nib 7located on the lowermost portion of valve portion 10 The upper portionof tubular member 21 is flanged, and the flange 24 is provided with acircumferential notch or slot within which O-ring 25 can be fitted. Inposition upon the top of the neck of bottle 9, the smaller diameterportion thereof is pushed downwardly into the neck of bottle 9 and theflange 24 rests atop the shoulder which forms the bottle neck. The metalsealing cap or ring 26, which is provided with a top wall provided witha central opening, and a side wall, is pulled downwardly over the flange24 and the lower edges of the side wall thereof is crimped or turnedinwardly to grasp the underneath side of the shoulder which forms thebottle neck. The pressure exerted forces or extrudes the O- ringoutwardly into contact with the inside face of the metal sealing ring,and a very effective leakproof seal is formed. Sound mechanicalstability of the structure is also assured by use of the metal sealingring 26 in the combination described. f 7 A septum inlet device is alsodescribed by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In this instance the adapterunit of the septum inlet is identical in principle and operation to thatdescribed by reference to the preceding figures. The adapter unit isthus also comprised of a flanged tubular member 31 which is held inplace upon the top of a neck of a bottle 29 by a metal sealing ring 36.The tubular member 31 is provided with contiguous vertically orientedopenings 32,33. The wall of the larger diameter opening 32 is threaded,while the wall of the smaller diameter opening 33 is smooth. The flange34 is provided with a circumferential notch, within which can be locatedO-ring 35 The metal sealing ring 36 can be pulled down over the flanged.portion of the'tubular member31, after the small diameter portionthereof has been inserted into the neck of the bottle' 29, to form aneffective leakproof seal and the lower edges of the metal ring 36 can beturned inwardly or crimped to hold the tubular member 31 securely inplace upon the neck of the bottle 29.

A septum 37, of disc-like shape, can be rested upon the annular surfaceor shoulders formed at the junction of'the contiguous openings 32,33 andthe plug 40 can be fitted downwardly thereupon to. form an effectiveleakproof seal. The lower projecting portion 38 of plug 40 is preferablyexternally threaded for threadable engagement with the internallythreaded wall portion of opening 32, and thus by screwing this member 40downwardly upon the septum 37 a seal is formed. The cannula of a needlesyringe (not shown) can be passed downwardly through the verticallyoriented axial opening 41 of the plug 40, the septum 37 penetrated andthe cannula then passed into the bottle 29 through opening 33. Fluid canthen be withdrawn from the bottle 29 through the cannula. Uponwithdrawal of the cannula the puncture made by the cannula in septum 37closes back up or automatically reseals to protect the contents .of thebottle 29 from exposure to external conditions.

Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a further, but quite important,refinement of the septum inlet device defined by reference to precedingFIGS. 3 and 4. This septum inlet device differs from the latter in thattwo vertically oriented parallelly aligned openings are provided withina plug 50, rather than a single axial opening as in the device describedwith reference to the preceding figures.

There is thus shown in FIG. 5 a flanged tubular member 51, the smallerdiameter portion of which is fitted into a bottle 59. A metal sealingring 56 is drawn downwardly over the flanged portion of the member andthe lower edges thereof turned inwardly to grasp the lowermost shouldersof the neck of bottle 59. The pressure exerted thereby forces the O-ringto extrude or bulge outwardly into contact with the inner surface of themetal sealing ring 56 to form an effective leakproof seal. The wall ofthe larger diameter opening 52 is threaded for threadable engagementwith the externally threaded portion 58 of plug 50, and the wall surfaceof the contiguous smaller diameter opening 53 of tubular member 51 issmooth. The disc-shaped septum 57 rests upon and is pressed down tightlyagainst the annular shoulders formed at the junction of the openings52,53.

In a preferred use for this type of septum inlet device, a vent line(not shown) can be housed within one of the vertically oriented axialopenings 61 of the plug 50. A needle could thus be projected through thesaid opening 61, septum 57, opening 53 and to a location near the bottomof bottle 59. A needle, to which is attached a delivery conduit, couldbe similarly passed through opening 62, septum 57, opening 53 and to alocation near the top of the bottle 59. By inversion of the bottle 59liquid could therefore be delivered through the needle contained inopening 62, and air displaced into the bottle 59 via the needle insertedthrough opening 61 to assure continuous uninterrupted delivery of liquidfrom the bottle 59 to the exterior source. Such technique is common inmedicinal applications.

it is apparent that various modifications can be made without departingthe spirit and scope of the invention.

formed of a rigid or semi-rigid type of plastic orv plasticlikematerial. The self-lubricated plastics, polymers or copolymers, areespecially preferred in this capacity, notable among which is thetetrafluoroethylene polymer, sold under the tradename Teflon."lllustrative of other materials are Nylon, Dacron and the like. Thesematerials can also be applied as the outer surface of laminorconstructions, applied upon inner rigid materials.

The sealing ring is generally constructed of a relatively soft metalsuch as aluminum, or an alloy of aluminum, or a plastic material whichmay be threadably attached to the neck of the bottle, in the manner of acommon screw-cap.

The septums are formed of elastomers or elastic materials, illustrativeof which are vulcanized natural rubbers and synthetic rubbers such asneoprene, chloroprene, butyl rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, and the like.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An adapter unit suitable for fitting upon the wall which forms thetop portion of the neck of a bottle comprising, in combination,

a tubular member formed by. an enclosing wall providing an axial openingtherethrough, the inside wall of which is threaded and the upper portionthereof is flanged outwardly and provided with a circumferential notch,the flanged portion thereof being adapted for resting upon the top ofthe bottle neck while the smaller diameter portion of the said tubularmember can be thrust into the neck of the bottle,

an O-ring for fitting within the circumferential notch of the flangedportion of said tubular member,

a sealing ring with top and side walls, a central opening through thetop wall of which coincideswith the axial opening through the saidtubular member, the lower portion of the side wall of which can besecured to the bottle neck,

whereby the O-ring is bulged outwardly and thrust against the insidesurface of the sealing ring to form an effective leakproof seal upon thetop of the bottle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a valve is included with thecombination, said valve comprising a tubular member formed by anenclosing wall providing an axial opening therethrough, said wall beingexternally threaded and adapted for threadable engagement with thethreaded inside wall of the tubular member of the adapter unit, andwherein is provided a pair of lateral openings which intersect with thesaid axial opening,-

a septum located within a first lateral opening, which lies across,covers and seals the axial opening through the said tubular member,

a stem movably mounted within the second lateral opening in the wall ofsaid tubular member, which stern can be moved to align the lateralopening of the stem and axial tubular opening to open the valve andthereby expose the septum to penetration. as by the cannula of a needlesyringe used to withdraw fluid from the bottle, or closed to suchexposure for maximum confinement of the fluid contents of the bottle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the movable stem used foropening andclosing the'valve is of a push-pull type.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the movable stem is rotatable withinthe lateral opening such as to open and close the valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tubular members of both theadapter unit and valve are constituted essentially of Teflon.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the septum located within thetubular member constituting a portion of the valve is located above themovable stem and in series therewith, the lowermost portion of the wallof the said valve tubular member is externally threaded and providedwith a projecting nib, and the inside wall of the tubular memberconstituting a portion of the adapter unit is provided with an openingof diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the threaded valvetubular member and threaded for receipt and threadable engagement withthe said valve member, and a smaller diameter opening contiguous to thelarger diameter opening of said adapter unit within which the nib of thesaid valve tubular member is received.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axial opening within the tubularmember of the adapter unit is constituted of a contiguous pair ofopenings, an upper larger diameter opening the wall of which isinternally threaded, and a lower smaller diameter opening communicatedwith the said larger diameter opening, said pair of openings forming anannular surface therebetween.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a disc-shaped septum is located uponthe annular surface between the pair of openings, and a tubular memberwith an externally threaded wall is threadably engaged with the threadedupper larger diameter opening of the tubular member forming the adapterunit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the said tubular member engaged withthe adapter unit is comprised of Teflon.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the tubular member adjoined withthe adapter unit is provided with a plurality of vertically orientedparallelly aligned axial openings.

1. An adapter unit suitable for fitting upon the wall which forms thetop portion of the neck of a bottle comprising, in combination, atubular member formed by an enclosing wall providing an axial openingtherethrough, the inside wall of which is threaded and the upper portionthereof is flanged outwardly and provided with a circumferential notch,the flanged portion thereof being adapted for resting upon the top ofthe bottle neck while the smaller diameter portion of the said tubularmember can be thrust into the neck of the bottle, an O-ring for fittingwithin the circumferential notch of the flanged portion of said tubularmember, a sealing ring with top and side walls, a central openingthrough the top wall of which coincides with the axial opening throughthe said tubular member, the lower portion of the side wall of which canbe secured to the bottle neck, whereby the O-ring is bulged outwardlyand thrust against the inside surface of the sealing ring to form aneffective leakproof seal upon the top of the bottle.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein a valve is included with the combination, said valvecomprising a tubular member formed by an enclosing wall providing anaxial opening therethrough, said wall being externally threaded andadapted for threadable engagement with the threaded inside wall of thetubular member of the adapter unit, and wherein is provided a pair oflateral openings which intersect with the said axial opening, a septumlocated within a first lateral opening, which lies across, covers andseals the axial opening through the said tubular member, a stem movablymounted within the second lateral opening in the wall of said tubularmember, which stem can be moved to align the lateral opening of the stemand axial tubular opening to open the valve and thereby expose theseptum to penetration as by the cannula of a needle syringe used towithdraw fluid from the bottle, or closed to such exposure for maximumconfinement of the fluid contents of the bottle.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein the movable stem used for opening and closing the valveis of a push-pull type.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the movablestem is rotatable within the lateral opening such as to open and closethe valve.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tubular members ofboth the adapter unit and valve are constituted essentially of Teflon.6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the septum located within thetubular member constituting a portion of the valve is located above themovable stem and in series therewith, the lowermost portion of the wallof the said valve tubular member is externally threaded and providedwith a projecting nib, and the inside wall of the tubular memberconstituting a portion of the adapter unit is provided with an openingof diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the threaded valvetubular member and threaded for receipt and threadable engagement withthe said valve member, and a smaller diameter opening contiguous to thelarger diameter opening of said adapter unit within which the nib of thesaid valve tubular member is received.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the axial opening within the tubular member of the adapter unitis constituted of a contiguous pair of openings, an upper largerdiameter opening the wall of which is internally threaded, and a lowersmaller diameter opening communicated with the said larger diameteropening, said pair of openings forming an annular surface therebetween.8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a disc-shaped septum is located uponthe annular surface between the pair of openings, and a tubular memberwith an externally threaded wall is threadably engaged with the threadedupper larger diameter opening of the tubular member forming the adapterunit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the said tubular memberengaged with the adapter unit is comprised of Teflon.
 10. The apparatusof claim 9 wherein the tubular member adjoined with the adapter unit isprovided with a plurality of vertically oriented parallelly alignedaxial openings.